The only bowler in the world who took a hat-trick in 3 different overs, you will be shocked to know his name.
Can a bowler complete his hat-trick in three different overs? Sounds strange, right? But this feat has actually happened in the history of cricket… and that too in Test cricket!
In today’s article we will know the story of the most unique and surprising hat-trick of cricket.
Year 1988, Perth ground, Australia vs West Indies, 2nd Test. The West Indies team was in a strong position thanks to a brilliant century by Vivian Richards. The score was 8 wickets for 440 runs. Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh were at the crease. Then Australia’s legendary bowler Merv Hughes caught the ball.
36th over of the innings, on the last ball of that over, Hughes got Curtly Ambrose caught out by Ian Healy. West Indies’ ninth wicket had fallen. Captain Allan Border then removed Hughes from the attack as the partnership had broken down.
After some time Hughes was handed the ball again. On the very first ball of his new over, he dismissed number 11 batsman Patrick Patterson. Meaning two wickets in two balls, but in two different overs. West Indies’ first innings ended at 449 runs.
Now comes the real twist… West Indies’ second innings begins. New innings, new date, new beginning. But the ball is the same, the bowler is the same – Merv Hughes. Hughes gave out LBW to veteran opener Gordon Greenidge on the very first ball of the innings. And history was made here!
This was the strangest hat-trick in cricket history – three wickets, in three different overs, in two different innings, and on two different days! In this match, Merv Hughes took a total of 13 wickets by taking 5 wickets in the first innings and 8 wickets in the second innings. Although Australia lost this match, this record of Merv Hughes is immortal even today.
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